• Now that you are familiar with the ingredients, let’s break down the cooking process in clear steps to create this delicious hot sauce from scratch.

Step 1: Sauté the Aromatics

• Begin by heating the olive oil in a pan over medium heat. Once the oil is warm, toss in the finely chopped onion. Sauté until the onion becomes translucent, about 4-5 minutes.
• Next, add minced garlic and sauté for an additional minute until fragrant. The smell should begin making your mouth water.

Step 2: Add Chipotle Peppers

• Now, it’s time to introduce the stars of the show: the chipotle peppers. Add them (including their adobo sauce) to the pan and stir well. Allow them to cook with the onion and garlic for about 2 minutes. You’ll notice the sauce darkening in color, intensifying the overall flavor.

Step 3: Incorporate Wet Ingredients

• Once the peppers are well-combined with the sautéed ingredients, pour in the orange juice, lime juice, vinegar, and filtered water. Stir everything together as it begins to bubble gently. This is where the flavor really starts to come together.

Step 4: Season It Up

• Add your salt, dried Mexican oregano, ground cumin, smoked paprika, and brown sugar into the sauce. Stir to combine and allow the mixture to simmer for 10 minutes on low heat. This gives the flavors time to meld beautifully.

Step 5: Blend the Sauce

• After simmering, remove your pan from the heat and let it cool slightly. Transfer the mixture into a blender and blend until smooth. If you prefer a chunkier texture, pulse the blender just a few times to achieve your desired consistency.

Step 6: Store and Enjoy

• After blending, pour the sauce into a clean bottle or jar. Let it cool to room temperature, then store it in the refrigerator. This sauce will last about a month, but trust me, it won’t stick around for long!